Arc-welding apparatus



sept. 16 1924. 1,508,713

P. 0. NOBLE ARC WELDING APPARATUS Filed March 24. 1923 mi* i wl 13S/MW Patented Sept. '16, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL O. NOBLE, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELEOTRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Anc-WELDING APPARATUS.

Application led March 24, 1923. Serial No. 627,487.

To all whom t 'may concern.: -vcomprise a light, portable hand tool or a Be it known that I, PAUL O. NOBLE, a citisupport upon which 'the' electrode delivery zen of the United States, residing at Schede'vice is mounted sov that the arc may be nectady,'in the county of Schenectady, State made to travel along the joint which it is of New York, have invented certain new desired to weld.v This arrangement enables 60 and useful Improvements in Arc-VVelding me to secure all of the advantages of auto- Appaiatus, of which the following is a matic control of the rate of electrode feed specification.l and yet disassociate the electrode feeding My invention `relates to electric arc weldmechanism from the electrode delivery deing and more particularly t0 an improved vice. Since the electrode feeding mechanism 65 arrangement of apparatus for producing together with the regulating and control aplwelds of circularcharacter. paratus customarily used therewith is com- An object of my invention is to provide an paratively large and bulky, my invention apparatus whereby circular welds may be makes it possible'to use automatic arc weldeasily and quickly made by the automatic ,ing for classes of work for which the ordi- 70 metallic arc welding process and particularly nary automatic arc welding machine cannot where the work to be welded is diilicult of be used and for which it. is difficult to access and the available space too restricted design a .satisfactory completely automatic to permit of automatic arc welding appamachine in which the feeding mechanism ratus as commonly constructed. and electrode delivery. device are associated 75 The particular field in which myi ivention as a unit. The electrode guiding means nds its greatest utility is in the automaticA preferably comprises a flexible guide tube are welding of boiler lues to the Hue sheet. constructed like an ordinary metallic steam -Automatic arc welding systems of the hose through which the electrode is fed to type wherein the welding arc is maintained the electrode delivery device which is pro- 80 between the work and a metallic electrode vided with suitable means for leading the drawn from a reel or other source of supply, welding current into the electrode at the and automatically and continuously fed to electrode delivery device, so that,`while'the the arc at the proper rate to maintain the flexible guide through which the electrode 0 arc length substantially constant, are now Ais fed may be a. number of feet in length, 85 well known. The rate of electrode feed in the length of electrode carrying current is such systems is usually regulated in accordcomparatively short. The welding current -A ance with some characteristic of the arc may be-led to the electrode delivery device which varies with the arc length such, for by an ordinary conductor or may be a flexexample, as the arc voltage or arc current. ible conductor braided upon the flexible elec- 90 Such a system is disclosed in my copending trode guide tube and suitably insulatedapplication 323,170, filed Sept. 11, 1919, astherefrom. The control wires for controlsigned to the assignee of my present appliling the starting and stopping of the eleccation. .A description of such apparatus trode feeding mechanism may also be also. appears in British Patent No. 139,919to mounted on the flexible guide tube in a simi- 95 the British Thomson Houston Company, lar manner if desired.

Ltd. 4 My present invention utilizes this idea of My present .application is a continuation .means comprising a flexible guide for l idin part of my copending application, Serial ing the electrode tov the electrode delivery No. 487,875, filed sluly 27, 1921, assigned to device. The electrode delivery device is ar- 100 the assignee of my presentlapplication. In ranged `for rotation to roduce circular that application I have disclosed and claimed welds such as must be mae in the welding broadly an arrangement which permits of boiler llues to the flue sheet. It will be of the welding being done at a point some apparent, however, as the descri tion rodistance from the mechanism which -autolceeds, that my invention is not imitad) to matically' feeds the electrode to maintain making weldsI in exactly circular paths since the arc. To enable this to be done, I have the same problems are encountered in makdisclosed lin that application a flexible ing any weld in a closed path or`a path of guiding means for gui ing the electrode to generally circular character.

.theelectrode-delivery device which mayv -My inventin will be batter understood up suitable support..

y from the following description taken conthat a circula-r weld may be made atv3. AThe ,f

electrode delivery device 4 is provided with suitable means, shown as a nozzle, through which. the electrode 6 is delivered to the arc which, during welding, is maintained between said electrode and the joint to be welded. The electrode' 6 is guided to the electrode delivery device 4 by the fiexible guide tube 7 heretofore described. One end of this guide tube is secured to the electrode delivery device and the other end is secured in any suitable way s'o that the electrode kmay be fed into and through the tube from the Aelectrode feeding mechanism.' In the drawing the tube is indicated as secured toa' member 'Bv which may be a part of the welding head in which the electrode feeding mechanism is incorporated or any other The electrode i feeding mechanism is represented as comprising electrode feed rolls 8 driven through suitvable gearing from.' electrode feed motor 9 which may be connected across Ythe arc so that the rate of electrode feed is' varied in accordance with variations inthe arc length to maintain the arc length substantially constant as heretofore described.

The electrode delivery device 4 is mounted for rotation so that the end of the electrode 6 during suchfrotation may produce welds of circular character. apparatus shown', the electrode delivery device is supported by and rotatable upon a 'support 11, 'a suitable bearing being 'provided between parts 10 and 11.

The support 11 may be secured in any desired manner in proper relation to the fiu'e work to be welded. ln the embodiment illustrated, the support is secured in the ue to be welded and the means for securing the support in the iue comprises insulating blocks 12 arranged in grooves in the member 11. These blocks are provided with tapered surfaces to cooperate with a correspondingly7 tapered surface 13 on the bolt 14. Upon' turnlng up the nut 15 against t-he washer 16, bearingon the support 11, the blocks 12 are forced against the inner walls of the tube 2 andclamp the support for the electrode delivery device firmly in positlon. Slnce the electrode is connected to one side In the flue weldingl moana of the welding circliit and the flue sheet to the other side thereof, the electrode `delivery device shouldfbe insulated from the flue sheet and this insulation is accomplished in the embodiment shown by the insulating blocks 12, although it will be obvious to those skilledin the art that suchv insulation'mightbe secured in many other ways, as, for eax ample,'by insulatingifthe electrode deiivery device 4 from the support 11.

'lhetelectrode delivery` device'is provided with suitable means for leading the welding current intothe electrode 6 and'A such means are represented in the drawingl as comprising the rolls 17, one of which may be connccted to the-welding current conductorv 18 through a brush 19 bearing on the roll or shaft thereof. The conductor 18 is connected to one terminal of a suitable source of Welding current, the other terminal of which is connected to the conductor 2O which leads to flue sheet 1.

Upon rotation of the electrode delivery device about the support 11, the end of the electrode 6 will describe a circle on the line of thedesired'weld. The diameter of the weld is small in iue welding and the arc is therefore close to the support 11, which may be provided with suitable refractory means 21 to prevent damage to the support from the heat of the arc. As the electrode delivery device is turned about the support 151 I between the electrode delivery deviceand i tube and this joint will preferably be ofthe ball and socket type. Turning of the electrode delivery device about the supportwill also twist conductor 18 and wrap the conductor 18 about the guidetube, but this is not a serious matter since successive Welds may be made in opposite directions. n

The electrodedelivery device is pivoted at 23 upon the member 10 to permit the electrode 6 to be rocked away from and toward the line of the weld.l Adjustable stops 24 are preferably provided uponl themember 10 cooperating with a projection 25 from the device 4 to limit this rocking movement. As it is well known in the art, it is undesirable to start the arc in the line of the weld since a weak spot in the weld is thereby produced. The operator will, therefore, rock the device 4 by the handle 26 so that the arc will be started between the electrode and the flue sheet at'one side of the joint to be welded after which the device will be rocked baclinto the line of the weld. The pivot 23 may be tightened so that the device 4 will f stay in any position to which it is moved by the operator or if desired a spring' may be provided for normally biasing the device to Y? about the pivot 23.

The electrode delivery device may be turned about the support 11 manually by the operator or any suitable automatic means may be provided for securing this turning.

motion. It is immaterial, as far as my invention is concerned, whether this rotation is secured manually or by means of a Spring motor or other motor. Where automatic means are provided for rotating the elec- 15 trode j delivery device suitable stopping mechanism may be provided for stopping the rotation when a weld has been completed. When the weld has been completed, the electrode delivery device is preferably rocked '20 to one side so that the arc will be broken at the side of the joint which has been welded. This is desirable for the reason that a. crater is unless means are provided for reducing the welding current to a low value before the circuit is broken.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the joint 28 for permitting the tube -to turn without twisting is shown at the other end of the tube.

Where the joint for preventing twisting of the tube is located at the point where the tube is attached to the' electrode delivery device a ball and socket joint which permits universal adjustment is preferable to a joint which permits mere turning without universal adjustment, but where the joint is placed at the other end of the tube as shown in Fig. 2 the universal adjustment is not of so much importance and an ordinary joint for permitting relative turning motion may be used with practically equal facility unless the guide tube is quite short.

Since the support 11 for the electrode vdelivery device is insulated from the work by the insulating blocks 12, the conductor 18 which leads current to the electrode delivery device 4 may, if desired, be directly connected to the support 11. The welding our- 0 rent will'then pass from the support 11 to the member 10 through the bearing and into the frame of the device 4 with which the ncontact rolls are in conducting engagement.

'As' thus connected there will be no tendency to twist conductor 18, but the tendency of fthe guide -tube 7 to wrap about the conductor 18 will still exist.

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of my invention in which means are provided o for leading the welding current into the electrode delivery device in such a way that there is no tendency to twist either` the electrode guide tube or the conductor which leads current intothe electrode and no tendency to wrap the guide tube about the conproduced when the arc is broken,-

ductor. The electrode delivery device 4 is provided with suitable insulation 29 which insulates theiixed parts of the universal joint from the frame of the device 4. The

' welding conductor 18 is secured to the sleeve 30 of the ball member of the ball and Socket joint by suitable means indicated as a bolt 31. The sleeve 30 is slit and a clamping nut 32 provided for clampin the guide tube 7 in place. This same c amping arrangement will preferably be used in the modifications heretofore described. Insulation 33 is shown for insulating the sleeve 30 from the guide tube 7 which is preferably provided with a metallic armor to withstand abrasion. This insulation is desirable to prevent the metallic armor from being alive and will preferably be used in the modiiications heretofore described. The welding current is led from the conductor. 18 tothe brush 19 which contacts with one of the rolls 17 by means of a iiexible conductor 34 secured to the insulated part of the lball and socket joint fixed to the electrode delivery device 4. The current thus passes from the conductor 18 through the contacting members of the ball and socket joint, through the lead 34 to the brush. It'is thus apparent that the guide tube 7 and conductor 18' do not turn when the electrode delivery device' 4 and conductor.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 differs further from the arrangement in Fig.

ll in that the electrode delivery nozzle 5 is mounted in the device by a ball and socket joint 35 which permits the direction of delivery of the electrode to be adjusted to any desired angle. The nozzle 5 maybe secured in any desired position of adjustment lby a set-screw 36. It will be apparent that by adjusting the nozzle 5 in the plane of the .adjustment of the device about the pivot 23, the. diameter of the weld may be adjusted in addition to such adjustment as may be secured by adjustment about the pivot 23. It will also be apparent that 'by adjusting the nozzle 5 laterally, the angle at which turns relatively to the guide tube 'A leo I the electrode is delivered to tlie work may be adjusted so as to deliver the electrode perpendicularly to a line tangential to the line of the weld or at an angle thereto. In other words, the electrode may be made to lead or trail with any desired angle of inclination with respect to the work.

-Where it is found desirable to oscillate the electrode across the line of the joint as the weld is being made, the arrangement of Fig. `4 may be provided in the arrangements shown in igs. 1 and 2. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, a cam 37 is mounted upon the support v11 and the cam-follower represented as a roller 38 is Asecured to the frame 4 and held against the cam by suitable spring means 39. As thusarranged, the

rotation of the member 10 about the support causes the cam to impart an oscillating or rocking motion to the electrode delivery device 4 thereby causing the tip of the electrode 6` to oscillate transversely to the line of the weld. When arranged'for this oscillatory movement the stops 24: will be adjusted so as to permit free movement of the electrode delivery device. When it is not desired to use the oscillating mechanism, the cam 37 may be moved back on the support ll so as to be out of `contact with the cani follower or if desired the cam may be left in place and the cam follower removed and the spring 39 disconnected. lilie stops 24 may then be adjusted to permit of the operation liereinbefoi'e described in connection with Fig. l.

l have explained my invention by illustrating and particularly, .describing certain embodiments thereof but it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in: many other forms than those shown and described. l accordingly do not wish to be restricted to the particular form or construction disclosed herein by way of example for the purpose of setting forth my' invention in accordance with patent statutes. The terms of the following claims are, therefore, in-

tended to cover all changes and modifica tion within the spirit of my invention.

Vhat l claim as new and desire to secure i ty Letters raient of the United safes,

1. An arc welding apparatus coinprising in combination an electrode delivery device, means adapted to feed an electrode continuously to said device, a flexible guide tube arranged to guidel the electrode from said feeding' means to Said device, a support for said device, means whereby said device may be turned about said support' and means source of tsupp'ly to the welding arc and.

whereby said device .may be thus turned without-twisting said tube.

2. An arc welding apparatus comprising in combination an electrode delivery device, a flexible tube for guiding awelding electrode to said device, means for feeding the electrodethrough-said tube to said device, means for supporting said device arra ed to permit movement thereof in a circu ai' path and means to prevent twisting of said tube by such circular movement.

' 3. An arc welding apparatus wherein a continuous metallic electrode is fed from va wherein means are provided for automatically feeding the electrode to maintain the. arc comprising in combination an electrode 'deliver device, means for guiding the electrede om said' feeding means to said' culancharacter and in versal joint for securing said 4. An are welding apparatus of' the type l wherein means are provided for automatically feeding a continuous metallic electrode to maintain the are, comprising in eombination an electrode delivery device mounted for movement in a closed path, a flexible guide tube one end of which is secured to said device for guiding the electrode to said device, and means wiereby movement of said device in said closed path may be effected without twisting said guide tube.

5. An are welding apparatus of the type wherein means are provided for feeding a continuous metallic electrode to maintain the arc comprising in combination an electrode delivery device adapted to be rotated, electrode guiding means secured to said device for guiding the electrode from said feeding means to said device and a ball and socket joint at one end of said electrode guiding means topermit rotation of said device without twisting said guiding means.

6. 'An are welding apparatus comprising in combination means for feeding a continuous metallic electrode tomaintain the arc, aV support, an electrode' delivery device mounted on said support and rotatable to yreduce welds of'circular character, a flexiiile guide tube secured te said device for guiding the electrode from said feeding means to said device and means on saidl device for leading current into theelectrode as it is fed therethrough. j 7. In an are welding apparatus of the class described a support, an electrode delivery device rotatably mounted on said support whereby -welds of a circular character may be made, ing the electrode to said device and a uniguide tube to Aionl said device whereby said device may be rov tated without twisting said tube.

8.. An arc weldin apparatus comprising in combination an e ectrode delivery device, a guide for guiding a welding electrode to said delivery device, welding current to the electrode at s aid de-l livery device, a-joint between said .guide and delivery device arranged'to permit said delivery device to rotate relatively to said guide and means for leading welding current into the electrode at said delivery device connected to said conductor through said joint whereby said electrode delivery device may be rotated without turning said gui conductor.

9. In an are welding apparatus of'thetypev wherein la continuous metallic electrode is -fed tothe are to maintain the same, a. support, a member rotatable on said` sup ort, an

electrode delivery device through w 'eh the electrodo is fed to the arc mounted on said member,-i whereby circular -welds may be a conductor for leading de and made upon rotation of said member upon on said support and a .follower arranged to said support,said electrode delivery device actuate said device. 15 comprising a nozzle secured thereto by a Y 1l. In an arc welding; apparatus of'the joint of the universal type, whereby said class described a support, a member rotata- 5 nozzle may be adjusted to vary the inclinably mounted on said support, an electrode tion of the electrode With respect to the delivery device pivotally mounted upon said' i work. member and means for oscillating said de- 2o l0. In an arc welding apparatus of the vice upon said pivot upon rotation of said class described a support, an electrode demember on said support.

10 livery device rotatably mounted on said sup- In witness whereof, I have hereunto set port whereby welds of a circular character -my-hand this 23rd day of March, 1923. may be made and means for oscillating said electrode delivery device comprising a cam PAUL O. NOBLE. 

